Chapter Summaries

Loki lured the Lord of Evil Spirits to Asgard by offering him the Reality Stone, while Richard concealed himself nearby to ambush the deity. The Lord arrived on Awad Island and reached for Loki, leaving Richard’s attack yet to come.

• Richard agreed to help Loki eliminate the Lord of Evil Spirits and accepted Loki’s Time Controller as a gift.
• Richard and Loki traveled to Awad Island, where Richard struck Heimdall for watching them and Hela ordered Heimdall to stop observing.
• Richard concealed himself as Loki activated the Spirit Mark in his soul and contacted the Lord of Evil Spirits.
• Loki offered the Reality Stone as payment for the Lord’s help, and the Lord abandoned his plan to send servants and traveled to Asgard himself.
• The Lord of Evil Spirits appeared behind Loki on Awad Island, praised him, and reached out to grab him.

Loki used the Reality Stone to infect the Lord of Evil Spirits with blood-colored threads, but the deity severed the affected arm and attacked him. Loki called for Richard, who stopped the stomp and revealed that he had recovered the blood-colored shadow.

• Loki abandoned the Reality Stone as the Lord of Evil Spirits struck, then activated it to send blood-colored threads into the deity's palm.
• The threads wounded the Lord of Evil Spirits and spread across his arm, so he severed the arm and pulled out a replacement.
• The Lord of Evil Spirits stomped at Loki, who called for his brother-in-law, Richard, to help.
• Richard held back the giant stomp and forced the Lord of Evil Spirits to stagger backward.
• Richard mocked the Lord of Evil Spirits's stinking feet and drew a blood-colored shadow from the severed arm into his palm.

Richard exchanged the Heretic God Statue for one hundred Star Cores and three hundred pure souls, then used the Crimson Chains and six Infinity Stones to stop the Lord of Evil Spirits from self-destructing. The Lord of Evil Spirits was left suppressed, with his divine power imprisoned and his soul sealed.

• Richard gave Loki the Reality Stone and turned to deal with the Lord of Evil Spirits.
• The Lord of Evil Spirits handed over one hundred Star Cores and three hundred pure souls in exchange for the Heretic God Statue.
• Richard’s Crimson Chains split and wrapped around the Lord of Evil Spirits, resisting his attempts to break free.
• The Lord of Evil Spirits began swelling to self-destruct, shattering Avadh Island and shaking Asgard.
• Hela reassured the Asgardians that they were safe, while Richard summoned the six Infinity Stones and sealed the Lord of Evil Spirits.

Richard captured the Lord of Evil Spirits, then learned that Hela had sent Thor to the Golden Palace Colosseum after he repeatedly argued with her. After Loki departed using a Time Controller, Richard captured the escaping black entity from the Heretic God Statue and sealed it inside.

• Richard stored the sealed Lord of Evil Spirits and told Loki that Thor had been thrown into the Golden Palace Colosseum by Hela.
• Loki declined to visit Thor, saying he had more important matters to handle, and used a Time Controller to leave.
• Richard caught a Spacetime Worm left behind by Loki and decided to have Loki lead him to the Time Variance Authority next time.
• Richard pulled the Heretic God Statue from beneath the sea and struck the escaping black energy with a crimson sword beam.
• Richard used the statue’s suction force to draw the black entity back inside and bound the statue with scarlet energy chains.

Richard returned to Kamar-Taj with the Lord of Evil Spirits’ statue and sealed main body, then broke the seal and claimed the deity’s black-mud remains. The trapped evil spirit revealed that a Spirit Mark in Loki’s soul would soon turn him into an evil spirit servant, leaving Richard facing a threat to Loki.

• Richard took the Heretic God Statue to Kamar-Taj and freed it from its Crimson Energy Chain.
• Richard and the evil spirit argued over whether he had kept his promise to release the Lord of Evil Spirits’ clone.
• Richard destroyed the grey seal and the Lord of Evil Spirits’ main body in a Crimson Flame Vortex, leaving behind black mud.
• Richard restrained the statue when it lunged for the black mud, then taunted it about Loki’s role in its downfall.
• The evil spirit warned Richard that the Spirit Mark in Loki’s soul would soon transform him into an evil spirit servant.

Richard sealed the former Lord of Evil Spirits, sent it to Tiamut, and entered the Evil Spirit Dimension to investigate its harsh society and hidden Dimension Heart. He discovered the Heart could move freely, then returned a six-armed city lord to its city, where a crimson speck secretly broke away toward the surface.

• Richard extracted a fragment of the Lord of Evil Spirits’ power, sent the sealed deity through a portal to Tiamut, and chose to explore the Evil Spirit Dimension instead of rescuing Loki first.
• Loki appeared at the TVA headquarters and surrendered to its agents, who took him to Dr. Fernandez.
• Richard explored the Evil Spirit Dimension, learned how its multi-armed inhabitants fought and evolved, and suspected the former Lord of Evil Spirits had deliberately shaped their harsh society.
• Richard spotted the dimension’s mobile Dimension Heart hiding in the sky and realized the former Lord of Evil Spirits had concealed it in plain sight.
• Richard erased a six-armed city lord’s recent memories and returned it to its city, where it crushed a subordinate and restored order as a crimson speck slipped away toward the surface.

Richard captured the Dimension Heart of the Evil Spirits and discovered that it was linked to the Lord of Evil Spirits, who had parasitically merged with it. Seeing a chance to turn it into a master-bound, evolving dharmic treasure, Richard began merging his True Spirit with the Dimension Heart and designing its structure.

• Richard trapped the Dimension Heart of the Evil Spirits and forced it to reveal that it had chosen Vesis as its master and arranged the space to preserve its freedom.
• Richard recognized the Lord of Evil Spirits in the Dimension Heart, explaining that its concern for the clay sculpture and inconsistencies in the dimension had exposed it.
• Richard hypothesized that the Dimension Heart could become a Dharmic Treasure Primordial Spirit, then sent a wisp of his True Spirit inside to investigate.
• Richard discovered that the Lord of Evil Spirits had parasitically merged with the Dimension Heart, extracted its remnant soul, and stabilized the damaged core with crimson energy.
• Richard gained a brief connection to the dimension but found he could not control it reliably, so he began designing secret runes to deepen his True Spirit's fusion with the Dimension Heart.

Richard absorbed a stellar vortex dimension and turned it into a necklace. Three months later, Tony discovered residual Crimson Mana at the site of an attack on President Matthew Ellis, while Rhodes warned him that the Iron Armor information had leaked.

• Richard shrank a stellar vortex dimension into a marble and wore it as a necklace.
• Tony caught Wanda secretly chatting about Richard, then coaxed Pietro into apologizing to her by offering him a holographic virtual game.
• Rhodes told Tony that President Matthew Ellis had been seriously injured in an attack and showed him Crimson Mana found at the scene.
• Tony and Rhodes contacted Strucker, who denied that the Order had authorized the attack and ordered them to contain any information about the Red Order.
• Rhodes warned Tony that military brass would soon investigate the leaked Iron Armor information, leaving Tony wondering whether the leak and the attack were connected.

Maya Hansen came to Stark Tower seeking Tony Stark, prompting staff to mistake her for a pregnant former lover and alert Pepper Potts. After Tony recognized Maya from a 1999 New Year's Eve party, she told him her Extremis research had succeeded and that she had met Aldrich Killian after Tony stood him up.

• Maya Hansen arrived at Stark Tower and insisted she needed to see Tony, while security guard Perry asked receptionist Windsor to alert the CEO's office.
• Windsor exaggerated Maya's visit into a story about a pregnant former lover trying to take Pepper's place, and Assistant Michelle informed Pepper.
• Pepper called Tony and told him Maya might be carrying his child, so Tony agreed to meet her in the basement lounge.
• Tony initially failed to recognize Maya, but remembered her and her Extremis project when she named the 1999 Bern New Year's Eve party.
• Maya told Tony that she had met Aldrich Killian after the party, and Tony realized he had been the one who stood Killian up.

Tony learned that Aldrich Killian had sent attackers to the Stark Seaside Villa, where Wanda stopped their missiles and destroyed their helicopters. Tony captured one surviving attacker, discovered Aldrich Killian’s location, and headed for A.I.M. Headquarters while Aldrich accused Maya Hansen of betraying him.

• Maya Hansen warned Tony that Aldrich Killian’s people were attacking his villa in Malibu, and Tony opened a Spatial Portal to get there.
• Wanda stopped three missiles with her Chaotic Mana and turned them back, destroying the attacking helicopters as Pietro evacuated Howard and Maria.
• Tony arrived at the villa, learned the attackers had gone down with their helicopters, and flew out in his Gold-Red Armor to investigate.
• Tony captured the Bald Man, used Crimson Mana to extract the location of A.I.M. and Aldrich Killian, and left him to explode over the sea.
• Aldrich Killian searched for Maya Hansen at A.I.M. Headquarters and vowed to show her no mercy for betraying him.

Aldrich Killian learned that Maya Hansen had left and, after ordering Powell to capture Matthew Ellis, was confronted by Tony Stark in the rehabilitation room. Tony’s Mark 99 defeated Killian’s Extremis soldiers with ease, and Killian realized Tony had deliberately misled him about his armor’s capabilities before Tony snapped his fingers.

• Killian demanded news about Fleet, berated Savin and a researcher, then learned Maya Hansen had left and warned his men to avoid provoking him.
• Killian ordered Powell to bring Matthew Ellis back alive, but Powell was hurled back into the rehabilitation room by an unseen attacker.
• Tony Stark entered in gold-red armor, and Killian ordered his Extremis soldiers to attack; Tony crushed Savin’s hand and battered the surrounding men.
• Tony used energy blasts to kill the fallen Extremis soldiers, then withstood Killian’s fiery charge and revealed that his armor was Mark 99, not the weaker model Killian had studied.
• Killian realized Tony had planted misleading armor data and asked about the approaching reinforcements before snapping his fingers.

Tony Stark captured Killian, uncovered the Dark Wizard Alliance’s involvement, and helped expose the organization’s hidden base in the Sahara. Kenneth Vila and the Adjudication Legion attacked the Alliance, but the battle was still underway when the chapter ended.

• Tony Stark bound Killian, searched his memories, and learned that the Dark Wizard Alliance was behind the attacks and abductions.
• Tony found Saxon Powell missing from the Switzerland branch and took him to the Red Order’s Sokovia headquarters, while the energy ropes killed Killian.
• Maya Hansen sold Future Pharmaceuticals to Stark Industries, and Pepper Potts secured the executives’ support by retaining their positions and increasing employees’ salaries.
• Strucker sent the Adjudication Legion to investigate the abandoned Switzerland branch, and Kenneth Vila led a team toward the Dark Wizard Alliance’s desert headquarters.
• Kenneth and the Arbiters broke the Alliance’s magical barrier and fought its members, killing a giant wolf and burning a treant as the battle continued.

Kenneth and his companions attacked a Dark Wizard Alliance town, where Oscar tried to reach the underground prison while Hurricane Fury devastated the town. Kenneth captured Dawson and searched his memories for information about Ernie Polk and the Alliance’s hidden leader, but a protective trap destroyed Dawson before Kenneth could learn more; Sebastian then led a crowd toward the hurricane.

• Kenneth’s group sealed the town inside a Four Symbols Barrier while Oscar unleashed Hurricane Fury and went to find the underground prison.
• Dawson ordered the Alliance members to destroy Hurricane Fury, but Oscar was exposed at the Black Building and overwhelmed by attacks until Kenneth’s Crimson Flame killed the Black Wizards.
• Kenneth forced Dawson out of hiding and used Spirit Vision Retrospection to search his memories for information about Ernie Polk and the person behind the Dark Wizard Alliance.
• A golden defense in Dawson’s memory blasted Kenneth’s Spiritual Consciousness and caused Dawson’s head to explode before Kenneth could uncover the information.
• Kenneth sensed Sebastian leading Alliance members toward Hurricane Fury, and Sebastian challenged Lyle for questioning his orders.

Kenneth used the Hurricane Fury to draw Sebastian’s group into a confrontation, where Sebastian forced the apprentices and mentors to cast the Abyssal Black Tide before fleeing. The uncontrolled tide destroyed the casters, clashed with Kenneth’s hurricane, and then pursued Sebastian as Kenneth moved to capture him.

• Kenneth took control of the wind pillar and redirected it toward Sebastian and his entourage.
• Sebastian killed a Shadowfang Apprentice to force the apprentices to form a Group Mana Pool, then ordered Lyle and the other Black Erosion Mentors to cast the Abyssal Black Tide.
• Sebastian secretly fled while the Black Erosion Mentors summoned the tide, which corroded and killed them and caused the Group Mana Pool to make most of the apprentices explode.
• The uncontrolled Abyssal Black Tide collided with Kenneth’s hurricane, and Kenneth withdrew his control after sensing the tide’s corrosive power.
• The Black Tide gathered again, spoke with Lyle’s vengeful voice, and surged after Sebastian as Kenneth teleported to the town’s edge to capture him.
• Sebastian reached the barrier and questioned a group of survivors who had gathered beneath it.

Sebastian tried to use a disguise potion to pass through the barrier, but Tobias ambushed him and accused him of causing the deaths of Mentor Lyle and the others. As the crowd attacked Sebastian, he kept crawling toward the barrier, leaving his escape uncertain.

• Sebastian forced Peter to test Foster's disguise potion and learned it let Peter pass through the barrier, then drank the two remaining bottles himself.
• Sebastian approached the barrier, but Tobias pierced his foot with a thorn and confronted him over forcing the release of the Circle of Damballah and the Abyss Black Tide.
• Sebastian tore his foot free and crawled toward the barrier while Tobias pursued him.
• The crowd learned Sebastian had drunk the last disguise potions and launched Black Magic attacks to stop him.
• Sebastian endured the attacks and continued crawling toward the Cyan Barrier Wall.

Sebastian's attempt to enter the Four Symbols Barrier failed, and the survivors fought over the Disguise Potion before the Abyssal Black Tide swallowed them. Kenneth learned Sebastian's memories had been tampered with, while Oscar rescued Lena and other prisoners, but Polk remained missing; Kenneth then ordered the town cleared of everyone.

• Kenneth stripped Sebastian's memories and sent him to Tobias and the other survivors, who extracted the Disguise Potion from his belly.
• The survivors fought over the potion, killing one another as the Black Tide approached; Tobias stabbed Sebastian before the tide swallowed them all.
• Julian and three other Arbiters held the Four Symbols Barrier against the Black Tide until it dwindled away, while Kenneth discovered Sebastian's memories had been artificially altered.
• Oscar rescued Lena and eleven Crimson Cult members from the Black Building's underground prison, but learned that Polk had been taken away three days earlier.
• Kenneth sent Oscar and the rescued prisoners to headquarters, dispatched Magic Clones to search the building for intelligence, and ordered Julian to kill everyone in the town.

Kenneth and the Red Order traced Ernie Polk to a suspected Dark Wizard Alliance base in the Amazon, where Strucker believed the hidden Black Sovereign might be waiting. Strucker ordered a Helicarrier reconnaissance before sending an Arbiter Legion to attack, while Shay joined Kenneth’s planned rescue; meanwhile, Jemma Simmons arrived aboard Phil Coulson’s Helicarrier and asked to join its search mission.

• Kenneth reported that he had found no clues to Ernie Polk in the Dark Wizard Alliance headquarters, but White Queen traced the alliance’s monthly gatherings to a secret base in the Amazon.
• Strucker suspected the base was also the hiding place of the Black Sovereign, ordered Phil Coulson to send a Helicarrier and Quinjet to reconnoiter the region, and assigned Kenneth an Arbiter Legion for a follow-up attack.
• Kenneth visited the rescued Switzerland Branch members, where Shay joined him after learning that Ernie might be at the Amazon base and could be in danger from mind control.
• Phil Coulson launched a Helicarrier toward South America, and Jemma Simmons arrived through a portal, learned about the search mission, and asked Phil to let her join.

After a mind-controlled Quinjet crew was rescued, Shay helped Phil Coulson arrange treatment for Fitz, Simmons, and the pilot while S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared to assault the Amazon base. Meanwhile, Melinda May discussed her faltering Crimson faith with Andrew, and Richard left Natasha to resume his journey through time and space.

• Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons discovered a suspicious settlement in the Amazon, but a mind-controlled pilot diverted their Quinjet before Coulson remotely regained control and brought it back to the Helicarrier.
• A golden-eyed man emerged from the settlement's church, identified Phil Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Red Order Arbiter Legion, then returned inside as the townspeople recovered.
• Shay examined Fitz, Simmons, and the pilot, found severe mental injuries, and helped Coulson arrange their transfer to Dr. Christine Palmer through Hawkeye Clint Barton.
• Fox warned Coulson about May's likely reaction, and headquarters ordered the Helicarrier to stand by as Shay and Kenneth headed for the Amazon base.
• Melinda May told Andrew Garner that her Crimson Mana quickly faded because her faith remained uncertain, and Andrew reassured her that doubt could pass with time.
• Richard left Natasha after their intimate encounter, put on his Kamar-Taj Battle Mage Set, and entered a spacetime portal to continue his journey.

Kenneth and Shay rescued Ernie Polk from the settlement, then led the Arbiter Legion in an assault against its mysterious master. The master knocked most of the Arbiters unconscious with the Will of God, but Shay and Kenneth resisted and began a combined spear attack.

• Kenneth and Shay infiltrated the settlement, found Ernie Polk under the Black Sovereign's control, and knocked him unconscious before escaping through armed blockers.
• After the pair returned to the Arbiter Legion with Ernie, Kenneth ordered the Arbiters to attack the settlement.
• The Mysterious Man used his golden-eyed power to knock most of the invading Arbiters unconscious, including the Berserkers after they resisted briefly.
• Shay and Kenneth descended from the sky and fused their Crimson Mana Flames into a spear, resisting the Mysterious Man's assault on their minds.
• Shay and Kenneth stabilized the spear and shouted that they were unleashing the Spear of Death.

Shay and Kenneth defeated the Mysterious Man’s golden attack, then helped the Crimson Arbiters break free of his brainwashing and wipe out his followers. The Mysterious Man was left surrounded and revealed that he attacked the Red Order only out of curiosity, leaving Kenneth to dismiss him as an idiot rather than an important enemy.

• Shay and Kenneth shattered the Mysterious Man’s golden beam with the Crimson Weapon, but found him still alive as an armed squad closed in on them.
• Kenneth raised a Crimson Veil against the squad’s gunfire, while Shay replenished his mana and Kenneth activated Oswald’s Tower of Consciousness to free the Crimson Arbiters.
• The Arbiters and Berserkers counterattacked, slaughtering the Mysterious Man’s followers and breaking his renewed brainwashing attempt, which left him badly weakened.
• The Mysterious Man’s final golden ripple shattered after a panicked follower crashed into him, and the Arbiters killed the remaining followers as he watched.
• Kenneth and Shay emerged from a Portal and confronted the Mysterious Man, who said he had attacked the Red Order out of curiosity about how it had replaced and annexed Kamar-Taj.
• Kenneth concluded that the Mysterious Man was a brain-damaged idiot rather than the big fish they had expected.